Tips for choosing a Summer Camp

When choosing a summer camp program for a child with disabilities, the most important question is: W ill they understand and take good care of my child? This can be answered by lengthy conversations with camp personnel or the director well in advance of the camping season. If a camp is too busy to return your phone calls, or take the time to talk at length with you, will they be too busy for your child as well? Regardless of all that a camp may have to offer, if the director or the staff is too busy for you now, it should be a red flag. Find a camp that will give you and your child the time and attention that you both deserve. Consider these factors when determining what camp program will be best for the needs of your child.

Type of Program

Decide early in the process what type of program you want for your child. Camps are offered as day programs (campers go home at night) and residential programs (campers board at the camp facility for the length of their stay). Length of programs varies from as long as a few days to several weeks. Be certain that your child is ready to cope with the length of the program you select. Camp programs are available in both single sex format and co-ed. Consider your child's social skills level and ability to cope with the demands of mixed social situations when deciding which of these environments would be best. Program philosophy should be clearly stated in the camp literature. Your family should be comfortable with this philosophy and confident that it will deliver an enjoyable experience for your child. Of particular importance is the camp's policy regarding family communication with the child. Will the child be expected, in fact encouraged, to write to his/her family during the camp stay? Will phone calls to/from home be allowed? Children with disabilities often have differing needs for family contact and you should be certain that the camp policy will not conflict with those needs.

Type of Camp

There are many choices. Your child can be mainstreamed into a regular camp setting, or be at a camp that focuses on their particular needs. There are also camps that mix up the needs, such as learning disabilities, emotional disabilities and physical disabilities. And then there are camps that truly specialize. You'll need to decide what type of environment will best address your child's needs.

Size

What are you ideally looking for? Camps range in size from 500 or more children per session to as small as 30-35 per session. It is purely a personal decision for each family. Make a point of asking the camp director for information about the number of campers in the program.

Educational vs. Recreational

Many camps are purely recreational, while other programs combine both recreational and educational activities. Some programs, while calling themselves camp, have a strong instructional focus. Inquire about the percentage of camp time devoted to varying activities and decide what mix will best serve your child's specific needs.

Location and Facilities

Choose the type of setting that you think your child will enjoy. There are camps with lakefront, mountain and forest locations, and schools that convert to summer camps. Some camps are luxurious and others are true camping experiences. Ask about eating, sleeping and bathing facilities and be sure that your child will feel comfortable in the particular setting offered by the camp.

Staff

Camps accredited by the Ontario Camping Association are required to provide one counsellor for every eight children for six to seven year olds and one to ten for eight years plus. When dealing with children with disabilities a higher staff ratio is preferred. For residential programs, be sure to determine the level of staff supervision in the evening hours. You want your child to receive the attention needed in the camp environment. In addition, it is important to determine if the teachers and/or counsellors are educated, certified, and trained to work with children disabilities. In addition, determine the level of medical training the staff has received. If your child takes regular medication, who will administer the medication each day?

Summer camp should focus on enhancing your child's self-esteem and independence. The successful camp experience should improve social skills and provide quality peer relationships. Hopefully your camper will return with better self-esteem than when the summer began.

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